French for "little kiss," Cafe Bizou is the restaurant equivalent of an unproven Hollywood ingenue who lands a small part, steals a scene and becomes a sudden sensation. When it opened in 1994, the original Sherman Oaks location became so popular so quickly that reservations were required weeks in advance. Quickly, the notoriously LA-centric culinary crowd deigned to make a trip over the hill for a look-see. In a city of fickle tastes, this French provincial bistro has garnered unanimous raves with its superb gourmet fare and unpredictably petite prices.

Now there are three Bizou restaurants in Greater Los Angeles, but none has the charm of the original Ventura Boulevard location, which has the bucolic air of a French country cottage. What's not to like about a restaurant that flaunts some of the best appetizers and entrees in town -- steak au poivre in brandy cream sauce, roasted pork tenderloin rolled in garlic and herbs, lobster and salmon ravioli in lobster sauce -- all under $20? Throw in a miniscule corkage fee ($2) and it's no wonder dining surveys rank Cafe Bizou consistently at the top of the list for most popular restaurant in LA. -- Mikael Romano (Photo: Ruth Yu)